Finance Team 101

Finance Team 101 is a course for pastors and finance team leaders to learn about financial management in the context of the local church. Topics include a vision for faithful church stewardship, budget creation and adoption, financial processes and controls, risk management & financial planning, and understanding financial reporting. The course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions for their congregation and confidently participate in the church's financial team. The Finance Team 101 course contains four units, each containing two lessons. Each lesson includes a video lecture led by a ChurchBiz CPA (audio only available), a group discussion, a lesson outline with group discussion questions, and practical resources related to the lesson topic.

• Unit 1: A Vision for Faithful Church Stewardship—In this Unit, we unpack the biblical vision for a finance team and its practical responsibilities. We also discuss the importance of a charter and the best rhythms for a team. Unit 1 Preview (Video)

• Unit 2: The Budgeting Process—Our team will explain the best practices for creating and adopting a budget in this unit. We help you think through your mission, connect to your budget, and walk through the practicals of the budgeting process. Unit 2 Preview (Video)

• Unit 3: Processes and Controls—Finance teams must establish proper processes and controls for giving and spending. In this session, we will guide you through the necessary controls for both areas. We will discuss the need for bookkeeping, expense management, payroll compliance, and donor management. Unit 3 Preview (Video)

• Unit 4: Understanding Financial Reporting—In this Unit, we'll help you better understand your church's financial reports by explaining how to read P&L reports and Balance Sheets effectively. We'll also spend one lesson answering your questions about everything we have covered in the course. Unit 4 Preview (Video)